New to Critical Mass? Let's be pals!

Hi everyone!

I'm a month into biking and am really excited for Critical Mass this Friday.

Never done it before and don't know anyone else who's going.

Anyone else out there new to this and want to meet up before it starts?

Tags: Critical, Mass, New, biking, to

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Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Tim S on March 28, 2012 at 4:17pm

I was there, it was poorly attended.

h' said:

Not lovin' it. I couldn't make that ride but was a little concerned that there apparently were only something like 30 participants from what I heard. No weather extremes to explain it. I can't recall a winter ride in the past 8-10 years with less than 50, and that's bitter cold conditions.

122782_ said:

Bahahahaha love it

James BlackHeron said:

I think there were more cops than actual humans riding at the beginning.

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Permalink Reply by Gina Overshiner on March 28, 2012 at 4:17pm

Ricardo, Thanks for the generous offer. We are looking into all options. I will let you know what we decide soon...we'll be arriving in Chicago in about 2 hours. Thanks again for the offer.

Ricardo J Rivera said:

I have two extra bikes for adults. If you need them let me know.

Gina Overshiner said:

I don't live in Chicago, but love it and will be in town on Friday with my daughter (11) and husband. I always try to schedule my Chicago trips around Critical Mass, because Critical Mass Chicago is amazing!!! Only problem is we are unable to bring our bikes. SO does anyone have any suggestions about an affordable place to borrow/rent 3 bikes for Critical Mass this Friday?

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Permalink Reply by Gina Overshiner on March 28, 2012 at 4:20pm

Thanks to everyone for your suggestions and offers of bikes. I am going to check into all options. Thanks again...no wonder Chicago is such a great bike town with so many helpful folks!

122782_ said:

I'd recommend one of the Bike and Roll locations, but I think all of them will be closed by 7 or 8pm so you wouldn't be able to ride most of the CM ride. Hmmm.

Gina Overshiner said:

I don't live in Chicago, but love it and will be in town on Friday with my daughter (11) and husband. I always try to schedule my Chicago trips around Critical Mass, because Critical Mass Chicago is amazing!!! Only problem is we are unable to bring our bikes. SO does anyone have any suggestions about an affordable place to borrow/rent 3 bikes for Critical Mass this Friday?

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Permalink Reply by Tony Adams 6.6 mi on March 28, 2012 at 4:27pm

How tall is your daughter? Kids of that age are all over the place height-wise. It might help us to find a loaner if we knew what size bike she needs. What size bike does she ride at home?

Gina Overshiner said:

I don't live in Chicago, but love it and will be in town on Friday with my daughter (11) and husband. I always try to schedule my Chicago trips around Critical Mass, because Critical Mass Chicago is amazing!!! Only problem is we are unable to bring our bikes. SO does anyone have any suggestions about an affordable place to borrow/rent 3 bikes for Critical Mass this Friday?

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Permalink Reply by h' 1.0 on March 28, 2012 at 6:36pm

The closing party was March 9.

Thunder Snow said:

I think one of the reasons the February Mass was so poorly attended was the fact that many (most?) of us were instead at the Gala Gallery, for the closing party of the Bike Winter Art Show (with puppets, the Racketeers and fashion show).

http://www.thechainlink.org/events/event/listByDate?date=2012-02-24

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Permalink Reply by h' 1.0 on March 28, 2012 at 6:38pm

I don't understand the connection you're alluding to between cycling infrastructure and CCM.

The great thing about CCM has always been that you weren't limited to streets with "cycling infractructure" and could feel safe riding down Western Ave.

Juan said:

In all my 10+ years riding the Mass since I moved to the loop. I have sharply noticed how the ride tends to go and stay north. My best guess is that few hardcore riders exist south of Roosevelt and the cycling infrastucture on that side of town is pretty lame and even more disjointed than the north side.

James BlackHeron said:

It's a pretty safe bet...

h' said:

Why do you think it's going north?

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Permalink Reply by James BlackHeron on March 28, 2012 at 6:56pm

Ask someone at CCM where they live and a good third of the time the person will answer Logan Square. If you add in Bucktown/Wicker Park you'll get greater than half of the attendees.

People tend to subconsciously ride back towards home rather than away from it. This effects the route quite a bit.

If folks from the South side want CCM to head south more often maybe they should show up and maybe lead and/or propose a route. It's as simple as that. This is how CCW (or any crowd-sourced/led/attended & disorganized group) works. Show up and be part of it and influence it in some small or large way -or stay home and complain.

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Permalink Reply by Thunder Snow on March 28, 2012 at 7:22pm

Oops, you're right. So much for that theory. So where were all the Massers in February?

h' said:

The closing party was March 9.

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Permalink Reply by Thunder Snow on March 28, 2012 at 7:35pm

There's a lot of truth in what you say, James. In my very limited Mass experience, I've only heard of one Mass that went to the town of Cicero (to view the now-gone Car Spindle in a shopping center). And I've never heard of a Mass going down Archer to Midway Airport or down to Hyde Park, Pullman or Blue Island. Anyone with longer Mass experience know of any South-Side-bound Masses in the past?

James BlackHeron said:

Ask someone at CCM where they live and a good third of the time the person will answer Logan Square. If you add in Bucktown/Wicker Park you'll get greater than half of the attendees.

People tend to subconsciously ride back towards home rather than away from it. This effects the route quite a bit.

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Permalink Reply by Juan 2-8 mi. on March 28, 2012 at 7:56pm

I'll make it as clear as mudd. South side + little cycling infrastucure = less people riding bicycles. Thus fewer people from that part of town showing up for CM and ending up far north each time.

Ok, so I get the point of CM sprawling its organic tentacles regardless of bike lanes, hek! we even went on the expressway one time.

So it is what it is until someone throws in a south side destination...

I don't understand the connection you're alluding to between cycling infrastructure and CCM.

The great thing about CCM has always been that you weren't limited to streets with "cycling infractructure" and could feel safe riding down Western Ave.

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Permalink Reply by Peenworm Grubologist on March 28, 2012 at 8:47pm

I just saw some promo for some new thing where Android phones are scrabblin to come up with new features that people are supposed to care about wanting, and apparently now they've hit on the idea of a "mobile hangout." And I thought, well, oh, say now, hey, way ahead of you.